He added: "You pursued these thefts with considerable vigour and determination."

Dance worked for Birmingham Midshires at its headquarters in Pendeford, Wolverhampton, as community relations co-ordinator, and was responsible for all money collected for charity.

She began dipping her fingers into the pot and over five years she stole #70,000, including money which had been donated for Birmingham Children's Hospital and the Prince's Trust.

Mark Phillips, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday that the alarm was raised after staff members expressed concerns that Dance seemed to be enjoying a lifestyle that was well above her means.

Dance was in charge of an account set up to deal with collections for 30 charities, but she began withdrawing money for herself and sought to cover her tracks.

Dance, of Lovatt Avenue, Newcastle-under-Lyme, north Staffordshire, admitted 15 charges of theft, three of fraud and asked for 156 other offences to be considered by the court.

The judge told Dance her the thefts were "sophisticated" and said she used the tax free sums to "enhance her lifestyle to a very considerable extent".

Elizabeth Power, defending said Dance, a woman of previous good character, succumbed to temptation when in charge of such large amounts of money.

"She got to the point where she could not stop," Ms Power added.

After Dance was sacked, Birmingham Midshires issued a statement that all the affected charities had been reimbursed, along with an ex-gratia payment.

"The society acted quickly and decisively to send out a very clear message that it does not tolerate this kind of behaviour."